Electric snap switch



July 14, 1931. w. WURDACK, JR 1,814,777

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed May 5, 1926 ffz/ a' 22 E:

/QTTOENE Y Patented July 14, 1931 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl Y WILLIAM W'URDACK, JR., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

ASSIGNOR TO WMI. WUR/BACK ELEC- TRIO MFG. CO., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION MISSOURI ELECTRIC SNAP sw'rcn This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in electric snap switches. My present invention has for its chief object the perfection in structure and operation of the snap-switch shown and described and forming the'subject-matter of my pending application Serial No. 34,559, filed June 3, 1925, now Patent lNumber 1,694,899.

And with`the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and afterwards pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an electric snapswitch embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the switch, partly broken away and in section, its blades being, as in Figure 1, in on position, that is to say, in electrical engagement with the stationary circuit-terminals; and

, Figure 3 is a similar View ofthe switch with its blades in off position, that is to say, out ofelectrical engagement with the circuit-terminals.

Referring now more in detail and by ref- -erence characters to the drawings, which illustrate a practicaLand preferred embodi- 3o ment of my invention, A designates the base of the switch, which is preferably of any suitable insulation material and which, in

practice, may be suitably mounted in a switch box orvupon a wall or other support with its outer face flush with the'surface of the wall,

as is customary. n

Fixed to and upon the upper face of base A in suitably longitudinally spaced and.

o aligning relation, are pairs of circuit contacts or terminals 1-1 preferably of the spring r copper-j aw type, and intermediate the aligning jaws of each pair, base A is longitudinally preferably arcuately cut-away or recessed, as

at 2-2, for accommodating the swingable or oscillatory blades of the switchmore fully later described.

Disposed or seated longitudinally at its bight or base 3 upon base A 'intermediate the grooves or recesses 2, with its wall-portions or so-called legs 4-4 presented upwardly,

is a frame B of substantially U-shape in end well as the opposite end of frame-bight 3, are suitably apertured to accommodate .screws or other attaching-members 8 for rigintegral longitudinal extension 7, which, as

idly fastening frame B operatively to base A.

Upon the opposite side,edges of its bight, frame B is cut-away and thereby formed or provided with pairs of -suitably spaced opposed abutments or stops 9, 9, and 10, 10, for

purposes also shortly appearing.

The upstandin walls 4 of frame B are cutaway from onefsi e edge in identical configuration, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, to provide a pair of so-called edges, as at 11, intermediate their height, in which is formed a pair of relatively shallow horizontallyaligning notches 12--12, and suitably at its opposite ends set in or otherwise fixed to the framewalls 4 adjacent their upper edges and adj acent their uninterrupted side edges, is a reinforcing crosspiece 13, upon which is rested and secured a bifurcated or slotted plate 14. Formedin the walls 4 adjacent their upper ends and in approximate vertical ali ent with the notches 12, are pintle-opemngs or seats 15.

C designates what may be termed the carrying member for the blades or movable terminals or contacts of the switch, which mem- .removal, is

ber is likewise preferably formed by stamping of a single integral section of suitable stiff or rigid sheet metal and is of approximately inverted U-shape, comprising a yoke 16 and legs 17, 17, the member C being cut away or otherwise 'formed upon the inner faces of its legs 17 with a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders 18-18 to rest for oscillation or rocking movement upon the frame notches 12. Each of the legs 17' is formed with a pair of outwardly presented lugs 19, and fitted intermediate its ends upon each pair of lugs 19 between retaining and insulation washers 2O and 21, respectively, as shown, is a conducting blade 22, which, it may be added, is of such thickness and dimensions to removably fit between and electrically en- 34 gage with the fixed contacts or jaws 1 when the switch is in on or circuit-closing position, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, and while the present switch is equipped with two such blades 22, the switch may equally well include a lesser or greater number of such blades as may meet the requirements of any particular installation.

Preferably, it might be here stated, each blade 22 and its respective retaining and insulation washers 20 and 21 are riveted or otherwise rigidly fastened together and then as a unit fitted upon the respective lugs 19, which latter are thereupon sultably upset to retain the described unit in operative position. As so secured, the said unit, while held from capable of some play upon the lugs 19 and-relatively to the fixed jaws 1, whereby the blades 22 are self-aligning, as it might be described, in their engagement with the jaws 1 and the life of the switch, through thus obtained maximum* electrical engagement between the blades 22 and jaws 1, increased.

At their lower or so-called free ends, the legs 17 of member C are lengthwise extended, as at 23, 23, for engagement in-the respective swung or rocked positions of member C with the limiting abutments or stops 9-10 of frame B, for purposes shortly to appear.

D indicates the manipulative element or so-called lever of the switch, which is also preferably constructed by stamping and formed of a single section of suitably stili' or rigid sheet metal and comprises a central portion or body having the shape or configuration best seen in Figures 2 and 3. As there shown, the body of member D is of symmetrical so-called skeleton form comprising so-called side pieces 24, 25, and upper and lower cross or connecting pieces 26, 27, respectively, the side pieces 24, 25, being united to upper cross-piece 26 by obliquely disposed pieces 28, 29. Presented upwardly from upper cross-member 26 and adapted to work in the slot of plate 14, is an extension' 30 carrying a suitable actuating handle 31, and

. fitted upon and 25 29, of member D projectin downwardly from lower crossmember 2 is a tongue 32 fitting and working for` engagement with its end walls in the bight-slot 5. Disposed through member D at, and disposed laterally of, its upper cross-piece 26 and supported in the openings 15 of frame B, is a pintle 33.

In assembling the several pafrts of the switch, member C, having the one or more contact-blades 22 mounted thereupon as .de-

scribed, is preferably first disposed to loosely straddle at its yoke the so-called lower crosspiece of member D, which latter member is then fitted upon frame B with its pintle 33 in the apertures 15 and its tongue 32 projecting into the bight-slot- 5. A coil-spring is now engaged at one end -with the lower cross-piece 27 of member D and at its upper end with the bight or yoke of member C, and the member C then fitted at its shoulders 18 to rest upon the notches `12 of the walls 4 of the frame B.

secured as described upon base A, and as so assembled, it will be noted that the member D is suspended at its pintle 33 for rocking or oscillatory movement upon, and intermediate the walls 4 of, frame B with its tongue 32 disposed in the slot/5, that the member C is disposed for rocking movement .at its shoulders 18v also upon and relativel to frame B, and that the yoke of member is disposed loosely within the body of member D with the side-pieces 24-25 of member D disposed upon opposite sides thereof. It will be noted that the parts of the switch are so relatively constructed that when the blades 22 are in on position, as in Figures 1 and 2, the yoke 16 of member.' C and the adjacent side pieces 24, 28, of member D are in spaced, non-engaging relation, the tongue 32 impinging upon or bearing against the one end-wall of slot 5 adjacent the frame-stops 9 and the leg extensions 23 of member C impinging upon or bea-ring against the opposite frame stops 10, and that when the blades 22 are in off position, as in Figure 3, the yoke 16 of member C and the adjacent side pieces are in likewise spaced, non-engaging relation, however, with the tongue 32 now impinging upon or bearing against the other end wall of slot 5 adjacent the frame stops 10 and the said leg-extensions 23 bearing against or impinging upon the frame stops 9.

The switch as a whole is noW ready for use and operation. Assuming then that the switch is in on position, as in Figures 1 and 2, lever-handle 31 of member D is manipulated to rock member D, whereup, the members C and D being out of impinging engagement or in spaced relation, as before described, the member D is first swingably rocked against merely the tension of the spring 34, which latter, in the initial movement of lever D, is gradually extended.

The switch-proper is then Shortly, however, on continued oscillation of lever D, the lever D engages at its framepiece 28 with the yoke 16 of member C and thereby exerts positive ushing pressure upon the member C to 'sengage its 'carried blade 22 from the terminals 1, and as the member C is so rocked and its blades 22 disengaged from the terminals 1, pull is exerted upon the spring 34 and the tension thereof exerted in snapping the members C and D andblades 22 to full olf position, the oscillatory movement of said member to said position being limited both by the engagement of the leg extensions v23 with the frame stops 9 and by the engagement of the tongue 32 with the opposite end wall of the'Tslot 5. Thus, the force or power required in overcoming the friction between fthe engaged blades 22 and terminals 1 is delivered under the direct, positive engagement between the members C and D and the spring 34 thus most materially assisted in snapping the blades from on to off position.

Similarly, when the lever handle 31 is manipulated to actuate the blades 22 reversely or to on position, the members C and D and the spring 34 will in like manner be position,

operative-actuated to snap from off to on the rocking movement of the members C and D to on position being limited both by thel engagement of the leg-extensions 23 with the frame stops 10 and by the engagement of the tongue 32 with the opposite end wall of the slot 5. During such rocking or oscillatory movements of thev members Cl and D, the tongue 23 in its working engagement with the slot `5 and the lever extension 30 in its working-engagement with the- Islotted plate 14:, function also to steady and hold the members C and D from lateral displacement.

My new switch has been found exceedingly eliicient in use and operation. It is compact and durable and composed of few. parts, all of which, with the exception of spring 29, are substantially unbreakable and easily and unexpensively manufactured, and the switch -as a whole is most readily and conveniently assembled in a. minimum of time and with a minimum of labor.

I amA aware that minor changes in the form, construction, arrangement,y and combination of the several parts of the sw1tch may be'made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent 1. An electric snap switch including, in combination, a slotted base, a pair of spaced rigid walls upstanding from the base and having a pair of aligning bearings, a member mounted upon said bearings for oscilla,-

tory movementfrelatiy-vely to the walls, contact-blades` carried by said member, a manipulating member supported for oscillation by said walls, a spring having engagement with the' blade-carrying and manipulating mem'- bers for imparting snap rocking movement to the blade-carrying member upon oscilla- 'tion of the manipulating member, and a tongue upon the manipulating member working in said slot adapted for engagement with the opposite end walls thereof` for limiting the oscillatory movements of the blade-carrying member, saidmanipulating and bladecarrying members being of relative dimensions that the manipulating member is spaced from the'blade-carrying member both when the blades are in on and off position.

2. An electric snap switchincluding, in combination, a slotted base, a pair of spaced rigid walls upstanding from the base and having a pair of aligning bearings, a member mounted upon said bearings for oscillatorymovement relatively to the walls, contact-blades carried by said member, a manipulating member supported for oscillation by said walls, a spring having engagement with the blade-carrying and manipulating members for imparting snap rocking movement to the blade-carrying member upon oscillation of the manipulating member, said manipulating and blade-carrying members being .of relative dimensions that the manipulating member is spaced from the bladecarrying member both when the bla-des are in on and off position, and means for respectively limiting the oscillatory movements of both the blade-carrying and manipulating members relatively to said walls, said means comprising spaced abutments on said base, extensions on the blade-carrying member adapted for engagement with said abutments when the blades are thrown to-on and off positions, and va tongueupon the manipulating member working in, and adapted for engagement with, the opposite end walls of said slot.

3. A11 electric snap switch including, in combination, a pair of spaced rigid walls having a pair of aligning bearings, a U- shaped member mounted at its legs upon said bearings for oscillatory movement relatively to said walls, the bight of said member being presented upwardly, contact-blades carried by said member, a skeleton-shaped manipulating member having pivoted connection with said wallsA for oscillatory movement and embracing the bight of the blade-carrying member, and a spring having engagement with the blade-carrying and manipulatingmembers forimparting snap rocking movement to the blade-carrying member upon oscillation of the manipulating. member, the manipulating and blade-carrylng members being `of relative dimensions that the mani ulating member is initially, both when tlheblades are in on and of positions, spaced from the blade-carrying member and subsequently both in actuation of the blades to on and off positions, having pushing relation Withthe blade-carrying member.

4. An electric snap switch including, in combination, a base, a pair ofy spaced rigid Walls upstanding from the base and having a pair of aligning bearings, a U-shaped member mounted at its legs upon said bearings for oscillatory mov-ement relatively to said walls, the bight of said member being presented upwardly, contact-blades carried by said member, a skeleton-shaped manipulating member having pi-voted connection with said Walls for oscillatory movement and embracing the bight of the blade-carrying member, a spring having engagement with the blade-carrying and manipulating members for imparting snap rocking movement to the blade-carrying member upon oscillation of the manipulating member, the manipulating and blade-carrying members being of relative dimensions that the manipulating member is initially, both when the blades are in on and l 0&7) blade-carrying member and subsequently, both inactuation of the blades to on and off positions, having pushing relation with the blade-carrying member, and means for respectively limiting the oscillatory movements of both the blade-carrying and manipulating members relatively to said Walls.

5. An electric snap switch including, in combination, a base, a pair of spaced rigid walls upstanding from the base and having a pair of aligning bearings, a slotted plate connecting said walls, a member mounted upon said bearings for oscillatory movement relatively to the Walls, contact-blades carried by said member, a manipulating member supported for oscillation Vby said Walls, a `spring having engagement with the bladecarrying and manipulating members for imparting snap rocking movement to the bladecarrying member upon oscillation of the manipulating member, said manipulating-v andblade-carrying members being of relative dimensions that the manipulating member is out of impinging engagement with the blade carrying member both when the blades are in on7 and olf position, and an extension on the manipulating member working in the slot of the plate.V A

6. An electric snap switch including, in

positions spaced from the' WILLIAM W'URDACK, JR.

and oppositely combination, a slotted base, a pair of spaced rigid walls upstanding from the base and having a pair of aligning bearings, a slotted plate connecting said walls, a member mounted upon said bearings for oscillatory movement relatively to the walls, contactblades carried by said member, a manipulat- ^ing member supported for oscillation by said walls, a spring having engagement with the .blade-carrying and manipulating members for imparting snap rocking movement to the 

